Saint John council has given preliminary approval to the heritage bylaw amendment that would allow the stalled Irving Oil headquarters project in the uptown to move forward.
At the public hearing on the heritage bylaw amendment former city heritage planner Jim Bezanson, who filed the appeal against the Irving Oil HQ project, spoke out against the amendment saying it’s inconsistent with good community building values.
Wayne Dryer, who ran as a candidate for Saint John Harbour for the Green Party in the 2014 provincial election, spoke out against the process saying it was wrong. “This says if you have money you’re not subject to the same rules as everybody else,” Dryer said.
There was an expletive-containing outburst from a woman in the gallery after mayor Mel Norton interrupted Dryer to tell him his remarks were not related to this amendment and Dryer responded that if he couldn’t speak to the process he had nothing to say. The woman was asked to leave the chamber.
Enterprise Saint John’s Steve Carson spoke in favour of the bylaw amendment, saying that this project is in keeping with the heritage development vision. Jeff Matthews publicly stated Irving Oil’s support for the change.
Councillor Donna Reardon was the only one to vote against first and second reading of the bylaw amendment, both of which passed with an 8-1 vote.
“It’s an amazing project and it’s unfortunate that every project that comes to council doesn’t look like this, all the detail that’s involved in it,” said Reardon,”I can’t vote for this amendment tonight because I don’t agree with what’s happening here.”
Councillor and Saint John mayoral candidate Bill Farren abstained, saying that he had made comments on this issue during a mayors forum.
The amendment is coming up for third and final reading at the last ever meeting of this council on May 2.
